Maverick Viñales will not be World Champion this season in MotoGP, but if he continues the momentum shown since Assen, he can weigh heavily on the decision-making process which will identify who will take the crown. And thus set a date for 2023. The Aprilia rider is indeed showing himself more and more comfortable with his RS-GP by taking the big points at the finish, and he is at a point in the calendar where he would be delighted to take revenge on the events of last year. In conflict with Yamaha, he was then laid off after the Austrian Grand Prix. In fact, the next meeting is on August 21…
By the way, it's been a while since Maverick Vinales increases in power. So, if he had not experienced a technical failure of his rear level corrector on his Aprilia at the Sachsenring he would have placed at least fourth. The beginnings of a return to the forefront confirmed in the following round at Assen, marked by the first podium with the Noale brand. A symbol, because last year he was also on the podium of the Dutch Grand Prix, but it was his last with Yamaha ...
A historical parallel that we will inevitably have in mind when arriving at the Red Bull Ring for the Austrian Grand Prix. In 2021, the events that had been experienced there brought a brutal end to the relationship that had lasted for five years between the Spaniard and Yamaha . A few days later, the layoff was pronounced, then the break was completed for a direction towards the stand Aprilia under the benevolent impulse ofAleix Espargaró.
However, given the spectacle offered by the Top Gun at Silverstone, we can envisage a brilliant revenge from the rider who still remembers his last Battle of Britain against the Ducati of Pecco Bagnaia : " I overtook him, but he passed me again. After what, I had a heat in turn 1, which made me lose a few meters. From then on, I made sure to close all the doors, to block Jack Miller. But we can consider ourselves happy,” he comments on motogp.com.
Maverick Viñales has a personal matter to attend to, while the Aprilia team has its own interests
The second consecutive podium was still at the end of the British road. A performance that convinced Maverick Vinales to have the potential to do even better. “ I believe in myself, as well as in this project. I always knew it would be a matter of time and work “, he says. “ We have the potential to be at the forefront and fight for victories, as we have demonstrated in previous races. Let's just make sure we stay focused ". And he ends: “I can't wait to take the final step and it would be a dream to do it at the Red Bull Ring »
Here we are, and this spirit of revenge, this idea of closing the loop by showing that we were right, in short, this personal issue could well play a role in the title race. If he materializes in front Pecco Bagnaia, the latter will have lost time and five precious points in his recovery on Fabio Quartararo. If it is this second who is beaten by his former teammate, it is he who will suffer. But the question is what will happen towards the finish if the one following the Top Gun is a Aleix Espargaró who is recovering from his fractured right heel after his heavy fall in FP4 at Silverstone... No doubt he is asking himself the same question.
